Claude desbeaux



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE DESBEAUX, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR TURNING THE LEAVES 0F BOOKS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,381, dated January 3, 1854.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CLAUDE DEsnaUx, of Paris, in the French Empire, havetinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Turning the Leaves of Books, &c., and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the principle or character which distinguishes them from all other things before known and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, showing this apparatus.

This invention is for the purpose of obviating the trouble and inco-nvenience of turning the leaves or pages of music books; in all instruments requiring the use of both hands either the reading or execution of the piece is interrupted or the correct' time is lost thereby destroying the effect of the harmony; or recourse'must be had to an assistant who must of necessity be a musician. I will not therefore dwell upon the advantages which accrue from the adoption of a simple, cheap, and edective mechanical arrangement for this purpose which may be applied to music stands, piano-fortes, organs and articles of furniture.

The arrangement which I propose to adopt is an entirely new apparatus, and consists in the application of magnetism, permitting of the construction of an exceedingly simple apparatus compared with what has been made up to the present time.

This apparatus consists of a magnet attached to the end of a movable arm which is actuated by an arrangement of springs and pedals, and the attaching of a series of metal disks, by gum or other suitable means to the bottom of each leaf which requires to be turned. At each depression ofthe pedal the arm with its magnet turns on a fixed center in order to come in contact with one of the `disks hereinbefore mentioned and which it carries with it on returning to its original position. A concealed spring eects this second movement or return of the arm which takes place on releasing the pedal.

In order to give a complete and perfect idea of this apparatus which I call a magnetic turn page I have annexed to this description two sheets of drawings which represent full views and `details of the apparatus and which will be sufliciently clear to explain the principle of my invention. I may add moreover that I have constructed my apparatus so as to apply it to any existing music stands or to music stands specially made for that purpose, and to all kinds of pianos, organs, &c.

Figure l on Sheet l of my drawings re-presents an elevation of a music stand with turn page complete. Figs. 2, 3, and Il on the same sheet represent the same mechanism on a larger scale, to be applied to existing music stands of the ordinary construction. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 represent the principal parts of the mechanism drawn full size. Figs. 8 and 9 represent in plan and side elevation, the disks or metal clips to be attached to each leaf. Fig. 1 on Sheet 2 represents the application of my system to a piano-forte. Fig. 2 represents the mechanism on a much larger scale seen in front, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the turn age.

The disks are composed of very thin sheet iron as shown in Fig.V 8 and may be made of any suitable form. They may be previously hardened and tempered blue and coated on one side with an adhesive mixture which permits of their being attached to a sheet of paper byI slight moisture similar to the xing of postage stamps.` As these disks or clips are very thin they do not considerably increase the thickness of the book. Such disks may be replaced by clips which may be removed and replaced with facility; they may be arranged as shown in Fig. 9 of Sheet l of the drawings. This clip consists of two plates of very thin iron united at one end and connected by means of a small sliding ring of thin copper which bringsthem near together in order to clip the leaf on the edge of which it will be applied.

The rectangular box B Figs. 2, 3, and 4, may be adapted as above mentioned either to existing music stands or to stands constructed for the purpose. In the former case I x to the body of the box two iron lugs n to secure it with screws to the projecting part of the music stand. In the middle is another longer lug 29 to the upper extremity of which is attached the cord f which holds the music book on the middle of the stand.' In the latter case the box is made in one piece with the music stand as shown in Fig. 1, but the additional lug p which carries the cord f', exists only in the upper part.

In each system I apply a small spring hook 1" in which the end of the cord engaged this cord is then stretched in the fold of the music book of the sheet of music to be held on the incline plane of the stand. This means of securing is so sure that a single sheet or the half of a sheet may be retained by it the edge of such sheet being folded.

It will be observed that I have arranged in the interior of the box two helical springs a and e which are fixed at one end and connected at the other end by cords a2 to the axis c of the double grooved pulley. These cords make a few turns on the circumference of the axis so that if this revolves in one direction one of the cords becomes tightened and stretches the corresponding spring, while the other one becomes slack, and in consequence of it its corresponding spring shortened. Upon one of the grooves of the pulley C is also fitted a third cord b2 which passes over the circumference o-f a roller c6' and descends to the lower part of the apparatus where it is connected to the pedal E on which the musician places his foot each time he requires to turn a leaf thereby actuating the apparatus. A fourth cord e (see Fig. 3 Sheet 2) fixed to the second groove of the same pulley C is attached to the movable arm C which I call the magnet carrier since it carries the magnet D. Thus when the foot is placed upon the pedal the arm C which carries the magnet moves instantly from left to right and returns again as soon as the pedal is released. By the movement from left to right the magnet D comes in contact with the metal disk or clip which is attached to the edge of the sheet and carries it over with it on returning to its original posit-ion.

In order that the sheet may be obliged to traverse with the arm I have attached to the middle of the latter a small self-acting blade opening g which is jointed or hinged to the arm which is thereby free during the passage from left to right and adjusts itself behind the sheet as soon it is raised by the magnet. This addition which is most simple adds further to the regular and effective working of the apparatus.

As it is necessary that this apparatus should be applicable to all sizes of sheets, I have so constructed the arm C that it may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure. For this purpose it is merely necessary to make the arm in two pieces the one inclosed and sliding within the other as shown clearly in Fig. 3 Sheet 2 of the drawing. It is also better that the arm should have always the same power for which purpose the power ol' the two springs a and a is modified according to the length of the movable arm, this is effected by the arrangement of cords which connect the springs to the double grooved pulley C. I also adjust the strength of the springs by the screws c in the end of the box containing them. A small cushion n is also made adjustable itis fitted to the box in such a position that the disks on the leaves of the book may rest upon it to receive the magnet when turned over to that side. In this manner the apparatus works always with the most perfect regularity with any form of disk or clip as well as with all sizes of sheets or music books.

I/Vhen this apparatus is to be applied to pianos as shown in the figures on Sheet 2 of the drawings, the mechanism, with the exception of the fixed cushion remains entirely the same. The box which contains it and which is made in one piece with the frame for holding the music book is fitted to the front of the instrument by brackets R in such a manner as not to interfere with the performer. The lateral pedal E which passes under the piano is retained in its place by a simple stay piece F and may be made of any suitable dimensions. It will be easily understood from this that the apparatus thus fitted up will act in precisely the same manner as that applied to music stands. It has moreover this advantage that it may be easily removed when not required for use; to effect this the piece F is removed and the brackets unscrewed. The pulley carrier which guides the cord to the right of the piano may be also made movable or adjustable according to the position of the piano itself. In like manner the hingesof the stand to carry the music book may be made to slide on a guide attached to the upper part of the stand.

Should it be found desirable to leave the apparatus on the music stand or instrument without using it it will be sufficient to turn the small stop or catch m over the magnet when the whole will remain in place even if the pedal be depressed.

The following is the mode of working this apparatus: lst, the metal disks are secured to the corner of each leaf of the book by means of a spring hook which not only serves to secure a disk on one page but marks on the following leaf the place of the next disk to be secured in order that they may be equidistant from the fold; 2nd, the book of any dimension must be placed under the cord f; 8rd, the book must then be opened and the pedal gently depressed till the magnet adheres to the metal disk; 4th, the musician then releases the pedal and the magnet returns to its place carrying a leaf with it.

' By each variation of dimension the magnet carrier may be drawn out of the tubular portion of the arm and fixed at a suitable length by means of a screw D?.

Having new described my invention and the manner of Working the same I desire it to be understood that the present invention consistsl. In the principle of turning mechanically the leaves of music or other book by means of a magnet and a piece of metal fixed or attached to the said leaves.

2. In the mode'described of moving this magnet by the combination of which, a good and convenient Working of the system re sults.

3. In the accessories which complete the said mode.

I do not confine myself to the dimensions above mentioned but I reserve to myself the construction of the apparatus above mentioned ci' any material and of any dimension, the placing of the pulleys vertically or horizontally. I may find it desirable to make the boxes of the turn pages of Wood or of metal according to the circumstances, to cover them or not to cover them with cloth or leather, to use Wood or metal in the construction of the stands, to produce the lengthening or shortening by means of rack gearing or of levers to change the relative proportions of the pieces if necessary, to make the stamps or disks of polished or damaskined metal, in conclusion to modify the details of construction in such limits which do not change the nature of my invention of the lmagnetic turn page 7 as herein set forth.

C. DESBEAUX. Witnesses:

JULEs MEUNIEN,

S. G. GooDREIL,

W. S. CHASE. 

